Mallorca 312, Spain

There are sportives, and then there’s the Mallorca 312. A lap of this island paradise so…

Mallorca 312, Spain

There are sportives, and then there’s the Mallorca 312. A lap of this island paradise so…

Mallorca 312, Spain

There are sportives, and then there’s the Mallorca 312. A lap of this island paradise so…

There are sportives, and then there’s the Mallorca 312. A lap of this island paradise sounds inviting enough, but the sheer length of the hilly course nearly broke our man

In the world of cycling, the word ‘epic’ is often overused. It’s wheeled out to describe any vaguely tough ride, when the classic use of the word should imply an extended, heroic journey of personal discovery, replete with loss and glory and audacious deeds – a tale for men to recount for generations to come. It’s certainly a tall order for a Sunday sportive, but in this case I think the term is apt.

The Mallorca 312 is epic.

The details

How we got there

Travel

After making your way to the UK, flights to Palma de Mallorca can be bought for around $168 with several airlines, including Ryanair, Easyjet, Monarch and Jet2, but check excess charges for a bike bag, which can cost more than your flight tickets.

Once in Palma, a cab across to the other side of the island where the sportive begins will cost between $85 and $100 and takes less than an hour. Or there are various shuttle services you can use. Rental companies Goldcar and Vanrell can offer you a car for less than $80 for the weekend.

Accommodation

We stayed at the Iberostar Playa de Muro on the northwest coastline, just south of Alcúdia. It’s a big, clean, friendly resort hotel with few frills, but has comfortable rooms and a warm welcome for cyclists. Double or twin rooms start from €110 ($157) per night (half-board) if booked well in advance, with prices rising to around €200 ($284) if booked last minute. A 10% discount applies to all those who are participating in the event. Remember that there are three Iberostar hotels on this stretch of coast, and the hosting hotel for the Mallorca 312 is the third along if you come from Alcúdia, closest to Ca’n Picafort.